Harold Camping’s Judgment Day

“Judgment Day is coming May 21, 2011” proclaims the roadside sign. It is one of many hundreds going up around the country and, apparently, around the world. One version of the billboard adds “The Bible Guarantees it!” At the same time RV Caravans are spreading out across the country carrying the same message. What is this all about? Is there any validity to it?

The following will serve as a brief guide and a place to voice some of my key concerns.

Is the return of Jesus a biblical idea?

Yes, the idea that Jesus will return one day in glorious power is a thoroughly biblical idea. It is prominent in the Book of Revelation (for example, Revelation 19) but actually appears throughout the New Testament documents. Indeed, the New Testament affirms that Christians are living “in-between the times,” that is, between Christ’s first and second comings. The confident hope of the return or Second Coming of Jesus (parousia in Greek) is even reflected in the Lord’s Prayer (“thy kingdom come” Matthew 6:10) and the Lord’s Supper (Mark 14:25). It is found in the earliest portions of the New Testament documents, as for example the Aramaic phrase “Maranatha” that Paul preserves for us in 1 Corinthians 16:20. “Maran-atha” is a prayer to the risen Jesus that means, literally, “Lord, come!”

We need to be ready at any time for the return of Jesus. For believers, this means living faithfully for Christ in every aspect of our daily lives. (And that probably does not mean joining an RV Caravan crisscrossing the country proclaiming “The End is Near.”) For unbelievers of every type, this means turning to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and trusting him with your past, present, and future. As it says in the Gospel of John chapter 3:

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son [Jesus], that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Who developed the particular connection to May 21, 2011?

The idea that Judgment Day will be May 21, 2011 is the conclusion of Harold Camping and his organization Family Stations, Inc. which owns and operates 66 radio stations throughout the United States forming the “Family Radio” network. This is the platform from which Camping has gained a certain following. Mr. Camping graduated from UC Berkeley in 1942 with a degree in civil engineering but apparently holds no formal Bible degrees. According the organization’s web site, he has been “a tireless student of the Bible for over five decades” and has spent “tens of thousands of hours…analyzing the Bible.” Indeed, I remember hearing him over the air back in the 1970s giving Bible lessons. We are to understand, therefore, that this type of familiarity with the Bible – combined with a kind of claimed prophetic insight (see below) – has allowed Camping to “calculate” the exact day of the return of Jesus to judge the world.

What does Mr. Camping believe will happen on May 21, 2011?

He believes that it is on that day that Jesus will return in power. According to Camping, there will be a great earthquake and all the graves will be opened and people will be alive again in a general resurrection. Those who truly belong to Jesus will be saved, while those who do not will begin a terrible ordeal that will conclude on October 21, 2011 when God will completely destroy this earth and its surviving inhabitants. It should be noted that Camping had claimed something similar for 1994, even authoring a book with that title: Harold Camping, 1994? (Vantage Books, 1992). Camping defends himself from having failed in that earlier prediction by simply noting the “question mark” that is part of the title and claiming that he made a slight miscalculation – something he has subsequently corrected.

What is the motivation of Mr. Camping, his organization, and his supporters for advancing this idea?

I have no reason to believe that there is any ulterior motivation behind this proclamation other than a sincere belief that there is something special about May 21, 2011 and a desire to prepare people for that day. However, sincerity is no guarantee of truth.

A Pastoral Concern

My main concern relates to the phrase “The Bible Guarantees it!” that is prominent on road signs and the idea of which runs throughout Camping’s materials. Indeed, Camping answers the question “What if May 21 ends and nothing occurs?” with the following: “The biblical evidence is too overwhelming and specific to be wrong.” When Camping’s prediction fails, it is setting up many people for another excuse to deride the Scriptures and the Christian community. For outsiders it will be another example of religious fanaticism and folly. For insiders – the contributors to Family Radio, the families and children who have pinned their hopes to this particular date – there will be serious fallout.

“It is a fair enough question,” she said. “But the fact that it is in Scripture is why you can say it with such a degree of certainty. It’s one of those things where you have to trust God.”

The way Camping has “calculated” the date

According to Camping, May 21, 2011 is the 7,000year anniversary of the biblical flood. The flood is recounted in Genesis chapters 6 through 9, and some kind of flood of historic proportions is attested elsewhere in Ancient Near Eastern sources such as the Sumerian King List, the Epic of Gilgamesh, and the Epic of Atrahasis. In the Bible, the flood is clearly a judgment by God on a world that had become increasingly evil and unjust. It is on this supposed anniversary that Camping is convinced that Jesus will return for another day of judgment.

Can the date of the Genesis Flood be ascertained?

It is tenuous at best to even roughly “date” the Genesis Flood. Key data that Camping relies upon include the genealogies in the Old Testament. However, he fails to recognize that genealogies in the Bible are often incomplete or have different purposes than the supposed “scientific” genealogies of today. For example, compare the royal genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1 with the actual data in the Old Testament that serves as Matthew’s source. Certain names in the line have “dropped out,” including those of five different kings who reigned between David and Jehoiachin. Is Matthew inaccurate? No, because a complete list was not his purpose but rather a neat, memorizable scheme of names in a 14 + 14 + 14 pattern – something he explicitly tells us about in Matt 1:17. For the record, Camping not only thinks he can confidently date the flood but goes beyond that to the very creation of the world. (For a detailed refutation of Camping’s calculations, I would suggest the study of my colleague Dr. John DeMassa, Engineering Judgment Day – May 21, 2011 Part I.)

Claim of a kind of “prophetic” insight

Despite claiming that “the date of May 21, 2011 was derived solely from evidence found in the Bible,” Camping is in fact claiming a kind of prophetic insight for himself. The logic goes like this: First, Camping claims that God has precisely ordered and determined “all the events of man” and indeed, knew before the creation of the world the exact day he would destroy it. Second, Camping claims that God always reveals his plans to his prophets (misquoting and misapplying Amos 3:7). Finally, Camping claims that God has “revealed” this date to him through his study of the Bible, thereby essentially taking up the prophetic mantle for himself.

Agreement with Camping a kind of “litmus test” for true faith

According to Camping, “True believers are given spiritual eyesight to see and understand that they may be ready and prepared for the day of Christ’s return. All those who are not ‘born again’ do not possess their spiritual eyesight to see this evidence.” Indeed, Camping has insulated himself from important potential criticism by stating “The fact that so many church leaders are insisting that…no one can know the day or the hour is another very important Biblical ‘sign’ Christ’s return is very close.” This means, in essence, that arguing against Camping is arguing for him! This is a sign, I’m afraid, not so much of the nearness of Christ’s return but of a teacher becoming incorrigible.

Treating the Bible as a Book of “Secrets”

Faithful Bible interpretation asks the question, “What did the human author intend when they wrote this book or this letter?” and then goes on to ask, “How does this intended meaning fit in with the teaching of the rest of the Holy Scriptures and how does it apply today?” An illegitimate way of reading the Bible is to treat it as a book of “secrets” with special meanings that have to be “revealed” – meanings that are unrelated to what the original author intended. But this is one of the ways Camping reads his Bible. He writes:

God is the guardian of His secrets contained in the Bible and only He determines when or if His secrets are revealed. The Holy Spirit reveals to Christ’s people the information needful for them not only to be ready, but also to warn the world, Christ is returning…God is the guardian of His secrets. The words needed to know the time of the end “are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

In tandem with reading the Bible as a book of secrets, Camping is also reading his newspaper. And what he sees is largely negative: increasing injustice, folly, and unbelief. Indeed, Camping writes of “the complete disregard of the Bible in all of society today.” All of this he sees has fulfilling “predictions” in the Bible that times will become dark (much like before the flood in Genesis 6) and confirming for him the time of the end.

However his reading of history is selective, myopic, and USA-centered. Times may well be dissolute here in the West, but they have been that way before. I am currently reading Arnold Dallimore’s two volume biography of George Whitefield and there were comparable conditions in England before the Eighteenth-Century Revival or “Great Awakening.” And more hopefully, there are other regions of the world right now that are experiencing great revivals and where the church of Jesus is growing in number, devotion, and influence. So if we lift up our eyes from preoccupation with the USA we find that times are not so unique or desperate as Camping would make out.

Misreading the Prophets

Camping quotes Amos 3:7 as “proof” that God would not end the world without revealing the date to one of his “prophets”. Here is the text:

7 Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing his plan [Camping: “his secrets”]
to his servants the prophets.

Three quick points related to God’s activity and the biblical prophets:

First, whatever the meaning of this particular text, it cannot mean that God is handcuffed from acting without running it by one of his prophets. Indeed, the biblical prophets were often surprised at the way God acted – especially in extending undeserved mercy.

Second, we must understand that prophets were not primarily “foretellers of the future.” They declared God’s perspective, will, and decisions regarding God’s people. It is only a subordinate part of that commission that the prophets sometimes spoke of God’s decisions about future judgment or future salvation.

Third, if there is one thing that God almost never revealed to his prophets it was precise chronology. When the prophets were given glimpses of future events it was much like seeing a series of mountain peaks in the distance: The peaks are seen, but the distances between them are not. Case in point: What prophet predicted the “surprising” distinction between the First and Second Advent (coming) of Jesus? Jesus himself spoke of it, and it makes splendid sense now. But prior to Jesus it was simply not revealed. In that respect, we must have some sympathy for the Pharisees and experts in the Bible at Jesus’ time. What God was bringing about was so simply unexpected. So no – God does not need to reveal his exact chronology of future events before doing them.

What has God revealed about the timing of the return of Christ and future judgment?

Relatively little. We are given some preliminary events in Mark 13 and parallels, but scholars and thinking Christians have interpreted these variously throughout the centuries. In fact, when Jesus was on earth he explicitly said he did not know the exact time of his return in power (Mark 13:32). What he instructed his disciples, rather, was to always be ready because he could return “at any time.” But if Camping is correct, then Christ could not have returned prior to May 21, 2011 – making foolishness of the prayers and anticipations of the church in the last 20 centuries. And not only that, making foolishness of so much of the teaching of the New Testament which breaths with the anticipation of the return of Christ – remember Paul’s “Maranatha!”

But shouldn’t we seek to know the date?

No. We should seek to be found faithful, whether Christ comes today or May 21 or whenever the day may be – in this or any century. Indeed, such a “seeking after dates” seems to be explicitly ruled out by the resurrected Jesus just before his ascension. Acts 1:6-8 reads:

6 Then they [the apostles] gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

In other words, Christ’s followers have work to do on the earth and that work is not dependent on the calendar. But here Camping simply goes beyond and against Scripture.

Faithful Christians everywhere joyfully affirm:

Christ has died,
Christ has risen,
Christ will come again!

Only we do not know when.

Will Christ come “as a thief in the night”?

Yes and no. For people who are unprepared, his return will be a surprise and will catch them at a disadvantage – much like a family who sleeps while their house is being robbed. But for people who are prepared, his return will be altogether positive and not like “a thief in the night.” So both the Bible and Harold Camping want us to “be prepared.” So what’s the difference? Only this: The Bible tells us to be prepared always by trusting Christ and living a consistent life that is glorifying to our Savior Jesus Christ. That way, though the calendar day may be a surprise, everything is prepared nonetheless. Camping, however, wants us to be prepared by – supposedly – knowing the exact date of Christ’s return.

Will Christ return on May 21, 2011?

It is possible but that is not something that God has revealed – whatever Camping may be claiming. So humanly speaking, the chances are slim.

What will happen if Christ does not return on May 21, 2011?

For most of the unbelieving world, Camping’s failed prediction will be one more excuse to deride “Christianity”. But for Camping and many of his most devout followers, it will be a kind of judgment day. Their unbiblical confidence about this particular date will be shattered and there will be a crisis that will resolve itself in one way or another. One “resolution” will be to “reinterpret” the day in some way so as to avoid facing the failure – perhaps by offering a recalculation, or claiming that God had changed his mind for mercy’s sake, or interpreting events to find that Christ really “did” return in some way or other. You see, this has all been played out before in the history of the Christian church (see for example, the Great Disappointment of the Millerites in the 19th Century).

My real concern, however, is for the families (including children) that have followed and contributed to this campaign with their time, energy, and finances. With the constant and false refrain, “The Bible Guarantees it!,” the disappointment that follows a failure of Christ to return on May 21, 2011 may turn off large numbers of young people from turning to the Scriptures for answers or to Christ for life itself. That will be a tragedy and it is one important reason for writing this blog post.

16 Responses to Harold Camping’s Judgment Day

You use a variety of tools in your critique and, in my opinion, successfully point out the lack of support for Camping’s beliefs. Another reason Camping and his supporters maintain their beliefs despite thoughtful critique is due to “confirmation bias.” “Confirmation bias is a phenomenon wherein decision makers have been shown to actively seek out and assign more weight to evidence that confirms their hypothesis, and ignore or underweigh evidence that could disconfirm their hypothesis.” (http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/c/confirmation_bias.htm).
A reason Camping is getting attention and financial support is because he is taking a risk. He’s putting a date on his claim. Risk excites people. Frankly, it’s easy to vigorously assert that Jesus is coming back “soon.” “Soon” can’t be disproven – it’s a safe statement. Yes, He could return “at any time”. But once again, that’s a safe statement – there’s no way to show it false. What say you?

Regarding “confirmation bias” – I’m glad there is now a name for it, but as you know the temptation to see evidence the way you want to see it is as old as the hills. That’s why, when we are training people to study the Bible, we do all those “exegesis”-type classes. You will remember that exegesis means “to lead out of the text” as opposed to “reading into it” what we wish to see there. Surely “confirmation bias” is at work with Camping and his followers and it is a danger always. But let’s not confuse avoiding confirmation bias with being non-committed or neutral. The gospel calls us to be committed and to be “biased” in the sense of trusting, loving, and expecting the Lord Jesus.

You praise Camping and his followers in one way at least: His stance is at least “falsifiable” as opposed to the more general (and more biblical stance) that Jesus will return at an undetermined-date-yet-future. Fair enough, in a way. Except the return of Jesus is not by itself the reason anyone should become a Christ-follower. That Jesus died for us, that he rose from the grave, and that he will come again as he promised – that is the cluster of truths that we ask people to consider and commit to. There is extraordinary historical evidence for the first two items in that cluster, all potentially falsifiable. But if the first two items are true, the third is easily follows. But of course it is not as easily lived out: While we “wait” we can get impatient, discouraged, fearful, distracted, and focusing on minor issues rather than on the things that matter most.

I removed the following two items from the body of the blog post and placed them here because they seemed of lesser importance. – Ray 5/10

Treating the Bible as a Book of “Secrets” (additional note)

On a related note: Consistent with Camping’s treatment of the Bible as a Book of “Secrets” is his apparent embrace of a version of Dispensationalism. Dispensationalism is a complicated – even byzantine – charting of God’s dealings in history that dates back to John Darby in the 19th Century and was popularized by C.I. Scofield. The clue to this perspective is Camping’s claim that “The Church Age” ended in 1988. (I hasten to add that there are many, many “dispensationalists” – probably the vast majority – who would not agree with Camping’s special claims. However, that Camping is looking at the world as a type of dispensationalist is relevant to understanding what he is doing here.)

I wonder…

Here I will engage in my own form of speculation, only I will admit it upfront. As I mentioned, I remember hearing Camping teach on the radio in the 1970s. He was particularly aggressive against pentecostalism and charismatic movement, considering those groups to be fanatics of a particular odious type. I was new to the Christian faith at that time but even I could recognize this was unfair and uncalled for. And what do we find in Camping’s subsequent career? A type of fanaticism indeed. Could we call it poetic – or divine – justice? I don’t know, perhaps not. Perhaps it is simply another prominent example of Camping’s biblical illiteracy even after “tens of thousands of hours” of self-study.

It seems that there is another group on the scene with a new perspective in disputing Camping’s prophesies. They make a compelling statement that “Jesus is here now.” Check out their billboard which I think will stir the pot a bit. http://www.flickr.com/photos/62779138@N08/5708063636

Lensman: Not sure how “compelling” the sign you link to is. It is actually an old ploy: Tag the name of Jesus (with all its positive connections) onto a completely alien philosophy, in this case a kind of eastern or new age mysticism. By doing that, the idea is that maybe some unwary people will be caught. I’m not saying this false connection is always conscious (it may be sincere), but it is false nonetheless.

When Jesus actually returns, it will be unmistakable. He will, so to speak, crack the sky. As John writes in the Book of Revelation, chapter 1 verse 7:

Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all peoples on earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen.

I received the following as part of an e-mail. The author gave me permission to post it.

I was walking in New York City and decided to take a rest on a bench in Central Park when I saw a bunch of people walking around with large signs that read May 21st rapture will be coming. Now being in New York’s theatre district, I thought it was advertising for a new Broadway show. Then after talking to one of these people, I realized that this person actually believed this was going to happen. I told him that I believed that the rapture was very real and was really going to happen but I didn’t believe that God had set the date yet.

God doesn’t want people that only fear for their afterlife. It makes me think of someone that wins or receives a large amount of money. People come out of the woodwork to be your friend but when the money is gone those same people want nothing to do with you. To make a long story short, there will be a lot of new Christian believers this week but on May 22, most of them will think it is a farce. Possibly those same people will never take a chance with God again.

Here was my response, in part:

Excellent point. I agree fully that fear is a bad motivation to stay a Christian. People can become a Christian (or at least seem to) out of momentary fear, but I am always concerned to see that transition happen in which person starts to love Jesus. Fear of hell can wake me up, but that will last only so long. I have to truly realize that what Jesus did on the cross, he did out of love for me and then I can start to “be a Christian” out of love for him.

Yes, God can “use” Harold Camping’s bad teaching to wake some people up. That does not excuse Harold Camping nor does it get me off the hook from the responsibility to point out his errors. However, again in God’s wisdom, he can use this to wake some people up. But those people need to transition to love for Jesus because…you are right, on May 22 there will no doubt be many people who say, “That was stupid. I won’t be fooled again. If that was Christianity, I’m looking elsewhere.” And that will be truly tragic because, as you know, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And as Augustine observed, Our hearts are restless until they find rest in Him.

Thank you for the commentary. I grew up in a born again Christian “End times” household. I lived most of my childhood in fear. It was torturous. Of course I love(d) Jesus, and wanted to go to Heaven, but as a child I couldn’t separate the notion of those things with death. It was a fearful existence. My mother would watch her evangelical programs, one preacher after another declaring with certainty that my time on this Earth was limited. This was back in the 80′s, so with the paranoia of nuclear war with the Soviet Union somewhat pervasive, this was a perfect storm of torment for a child who just wanted to play with his G.I. Joes, grow up and get to do all the things children are promised they’ll some day get to experience. As an adult, while I still maintain (or try to) a relationship with God, I am completely allergic to any forms of organized religion. I do not feel comfortable in churches. I’m distrustful of most who even proclaim to speak about God and the bible.

This is why I feel nothing but anger and contempt for Camping and those who follow him. I will admit to failing completely as a Christian in that regard. I feel so bad for the children of these people. The fear they must be feeling, the dread. What must their dreams look like each night this week as they see their parents preparing for death (the adults don’t view it as death, I get that, but I’m talking about the kids). As a bonus for spending probably much of the last year in terror, they will question everything about scripture and their own relationship with God when nothing happens Saturday. Will they become bitter about being put through all of that to no effect? Bitter towards God, towards the bible, towards their own families? My heart goes out to them.

I wish men like Camping and those that believe like him or follow him would just be content in their relationship with God instead of fixating on the end of the world. You’d think legitimate men and women of the faith, people who were secure in their stances, wouldn’t require dates to affirm their relationship. This is why human ego (or lack thereof) and religion has been such a deadly combination throughout history.

I’m not sure if you remember an old movie that came out in the 80′s on TV called The Day After. This was one of the scariest movies of its time. It was about World War 3. I remember the missiles and the mushroom clouds. It was what most people feared most during that era. The paranoia was so great that they put it on the news the next day. A movie like that would put fear inside of people and make them worry all the time. Now here is a fear that I had regarding church. I was a teenager that attended a youth group. My Bible church decided to show the movie A Thief In the Night. After watching this movie almost every teen in the place was lined up to be saved. Why? Because we were scared into believing that if we didn’t get saved we would be left behind. There were two other movies that we were made to watch that were part of that series. The final movie resulted in people that refused “the mark of the beast” would be beheaded. Is this the way that we should come to God? Out of fear? I can understand why some people are afraid of the rapture. We have a sense that if we “mess up” or “backslide” (as they call it) that we wouldn’t be included. I think one of the biggest fears that I have is wondering who is right. There are many different religions but who is right?

Ross, maybe you should know that God so loved the world that he gave his Only son and all you have to do is love trust and believe him will gain everlasting life. A message for Mr Camping: the Bible actually does guarantee this. It kind of takes the fear away from the rapture, doesn’t it? There is a verse that says, “for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” I believe that if I am not perfect as some Christians claim to be, but I love Jesus, I talk to Jesus all the time and if I keep him in my heart, he will love me unconditionally and will be there for me when the time comes.

David and Mitch, I appreciate the kind words and the…commiserating? (haha definite lack-of-a-better-word there.)

David, I sure do remember The Day After. Of course someone terrified of nuclear war would just have to watch it, and of course I didn’t sleep for days afterwards. I could have watched something else but in those days we only had 3 networks to choose from!

I appreciate your words concerning God’s love for us. I do believe in a Creator, and I do not believe at all He resembles Camping’s version, or the version you had to endure in those bible camps. It’s sad that man tries to take what isn’t his and turn it around, remove all the love and replace it with fear and hatred. What always got me about these threats about what will become of you during the end (and I do look at them as threats) is there is no way I will ever believe any God would believe you truly accept Him into your heart if it’s out of fear.

Again, I know this marks me as a terrible Christian, but I wish ill on Camping and his ilk. One day I hope to be a better person and not have such thoughts. I hope at least for Camping’s sake he sincerely believes all of this crap. If it’s all just a cynical exercise for attention and money, he better hope the end times don’t look anything like he’s describing because he’ll be in for a world of suffering.

I just want to be clear that when I say “I wish ill on Camping and his ilk” I don’t mean that to be any sort of physical harm. I just mean good old fashioned discrediting (completely, even from his followers) and financial downfall due to all the money he’s generated from this stunt. I hope the guy lives to 190…just without any voice or authority over anyone else.

Ross, thanks for sharing. I remember “The Day After,” too! And don’t worry about wishing ill on Camping, or about being a “terrible” Christian in any way. Christians are saved solely by God’s grace, not by “correct” feelings, wishes, or behavior. There are no good Christians and bad Christians. There are only Christians and non-Christians.

Well it looks like Camping was wrong! It has been 6PM in different parts of the world since midnight on Friday. So far we are still here and half of the world should be gone already. Either that or there must of been no believers in the countries that have already seen 6 PM come and go. I’m going to go with the ( it didn’t happen Scenario) Bible believers need to believe the Bible and not put all their trust in a person that totally contradicts the bible and draws his own conclusions. Yes Christ will come like a thief in the night as the bible says. Not when Camping says it’s ok. It’s funny, why has the family radio website been shut down. It’s 12:30 Est. right now and you can’t get in. Harold must be trying to figure out what lie he will have to compensate for ruining countless lives. Please if you want something Believe in, Believe Gods word only and people that teach gods word like Dr. Pennoyer.

I was able to get on the family radio website but there has been no Apologies or retractions for their followers. I really hope that the people that gave everything up for Harold camping will be compensated for their losses or at least helped out by the family radio network. If not, I’m sure that lawsuits will be in order. I hear he has millions of dollars.
Just a note: It is May 22nd 2011 in New Zealand. Sunday. They will soon be getting ready for Sunday School. Do they have Golf in New Zealand for the backsliders?
Here is a fun song that I used to sing in church with my dad and brothers. enjoy